Once restricted to the small-size flat-screen realm, LCD TVs are bulking up and
giving plasma TVs a run for the larger size money. Although still a tad small
for the average plasma TV, 32 inches is close to being the sweet spot for LCD
flat-panel TVs in terms of price, performance, and range of uses. We rounded up
the Westinghouse LTV-32w1, WinBook LC32, and the Proton LX-32 to compare.
Each contender offers a 1366 by 768 pixel resolution, includes component and DVI
inputs, and exhibits similarly moderate amounts of pixelization across color
gradations as well as surprisingly minimal smearing during rapid on-screen
motion. They all feature integrated analog NTSC tuners but lack digital TV
tuners. Let the battle begin.
Look & Feel - Westinghouse LTV-32w1 It’s mostly a matter of taste
and space whether or not the bottom-mounted speaker design will appeal to you,
but the fact is the LTV-32w1 is solid and looks sleek. The quarter-moon-shaped
blue LED located beneath the center of the screen—which can be turned off by
remote if you find it distracting—is a nice aesthetic element. The
Westinghouse’s sharp and sophisticated, easy-to-follow menu system absolutely
crushes what the other two have to offer (and blows away the menu look and
layout of most any other TV on the market, too).
Winner: Proton LX-32
Picture - Westinghouse LTV-32w1 The picture on the LTV-32w1 is
the softest of these three, although not so much that it’s annoying or
detrimental to the image. In fact, some TV viewers may prefer its softer,
“smoother” picture for video, but most won’t like it as much as the WinBook for
use with a PC or the Proton with video. The set also loses detail in the
brightest white and the darkest black portions of the
image.
Winner: Proton LX-32
Ergonomics -
Westinghouse LTV-32w1 With speakers located at the bottom of the TV,
the Westinghouse display is the narrowest of the three, meaning it fits in more
armoires and other tight places than the competitors. The shallow depth of the
tabletop stand’s base plate was another advantage that will allow it to be
placed close to a back wall. The LTV-32w1’s remote control is the smallest and
least impressive of the bunch, though, with small buttons and labels that are
hard to read. The back panel’s input labeling is similarly hard to
see.
Winner: Proton LX-32
Sound - Westinghouse LTV-32w1
Speakers located beneath the
screen receive a bit of a bass boost thanks to their proximity to a floor or
tabletop boundary, but it’s no substitute for the real thing. The sound is
equivalent to a small, inexpensive bookshelf speaker, which is about what you’d
expect from the average-size TV (but you wish for more … )
Winner: WinBook LC32
Westinghouse LTV-32w1; $1,599
www.westinghousedigital.com;
562.236.9800
RATING: SOLID
